Data handling system

ABSTRACT

A data handling system for multi-user transactions has a central data processing device incorporating a data store structured in accordance with a predetermined progressive transaction involving cooperation between users, and a plurality of data access interfaces for the device for the respective users with defined access privileges. At least some interfaces are read/write interfaces whereby data can be read from and written to the store in relation to predetermined stages of the transaction in accordance with the respective privileges.

This invention relates to a data handling system for multi-usertransactions.

In the case of multi-user transactions where progress occurs involving anumber of separate parties working together, there may be therequirement for the parties to interchange data between themselves tofacilitate tracking of the transaction and/or so that each party canobtain information necessary to enable the transaction to take place.

Thus, by way of example, in the case of freight consignments, which areforwarded between. destinations passing through the hands of differentintermediaries, data relating to the consignment is customarily relayedfrom intermediary to intermediary, with each intermediary adding furtherinformation. This helps ensure that the right consignment is correctlyrouted to the desired destination accompanied by correct documentation.Also data relating to the progress of the transaction may be relayedback to a control location so that progress can be tracked.

In practice this conventional procedure involves the use of forms orother paper documents which are prepared by the intermediaries andpassed backwards and forwards between authorised personnel.

In so far as high reliance is placed on the intermediaries themselveswith regard to the selection of documents and collection of appropriateinformation for entry on the documents, this can be inconvenient andfrequently prone to error.

Also reliance on the use of paper documentation is generallyInconvenient and may have limitations with regard to accessibility ofinformation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a data handling systemwhich enables multi-user information relating to a transaction to beprocessed in a versatile, reliable and convenient manner.

According to one aspect of the invention therefore there is provided adata handling system for multi-user transactions comprising a centraldata processing device incorporating a data store structured inaccordance with a predetermined progressive transaction involvingcooperation between users, a plurality of data access interfaces for thedevice for the respective users with defined access privileges, at leastsome interfaces being read/write interfaces whereby data can be readfrom and written to the said store in relation to predetermined stagesof the said transaction in accordance with the respective saidprivileges.

With this arrangement, data relating to a progressive transaction can becollected and distributed between multiple parties in a particularlyeasy and convenient manner. Moreover, as a consequence of the definedaccess privileges, security of access can be readily ensured, such thataccess is only available to authorised personnel and also, such thatdifferent personnel have different levels of access e.g. To differentdata. in particular, it can be ensured that a user only has access on aneed-to-know' basis e.g. to data which that user has provided or whichone or more other users shares with that user.

Preferably, provision may be made for providing to a user information ina predetermined format possibly for downloading as hard copydocumentation e.g. as a print out or for bi-directional exchange via ahandheld/mobile device and/or bi-directional exchange with other systemsbelonging to the user. In this way, the user can obtain requisitedocumentation in a simple, convenient and reliable manner.

With regard to the progressive transaction, this may be of any suitablekind.

In one embodiment, the transaction constitutes forwarding of a freightconsignment between destinations passing through the hands of differentintermediaries. In this case the interfaces provide data access for therespective intermediaries and possibly also other authorised personnelwhereby movements of the identified consignment can be entered as theytake place so that the progress of the consignment can be directed,checked and tracked as desired, and requisite shipping documentation orthe like can be readily and reliably generated.

Thus, and in accordance with a second aspect of the present inventionthere is provided a method of tracking movements of freight consignmentsunder the control of a plurality of separate parties wherein eachfreight consignment has a respective set of data stored at a centraldata store, and each party has access to the data store for purposes ofreading and writing to the data set in accordance with a respective setof permissions.

It is however to be understood that the Invention is not Intended to berestricted to freight consignments. The first aspect of the inventionmay therefore apply to any other suitable progressive transaction whichrequires multi-user shared data with controlled access involvingdifferent access parameters for different users.

Thus, for example, the transaction may be a legal transaction related tothe resolution of a problem in which different parties such as lawyers,courts, welfare officers, etc. may work together each requiring tocontribute some information to a pool of shared data and each requiringaccess to a predetermined sector of this pool.

As a further example, the transaction may be a public projecttransaction related to construction work or the like where differentparties such as utilities, law firms, construction firms, police, localgovernment departments may work together with access to a pool of shareddata.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only andwith reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the data-handling system ofthe invention; and

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation showing interface access totransactions with the system of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, the data-handling system comprises a centralcomputer or server which is connected To the Internet or other secure

network capable of handling mass access such as mobile WAP, SMS or othermobile type access as well as external system access such as accountingor other customer based systems (possibly via XML—extensible Mark-upLanguage, or other technologies).

The server runs software which establishes secure web page or other typeof access linked to a processing device and a data store.

Different parties have access to the information on the server fromtheir respective PC terminals or other devices via secure, passwordprotected Internet or other access. These devices may be specifieddevices at fixeci locations. Preferably however the arrangement is suchthat access can be gained by an appropriately authorised person orsystem using any device at any location having suitable connection tothe server.

By way of example, the system may be used to conduct transactionsconsisting of movements of a number of freight consignments hereidentified as Job 1, 2, 3, 4.

In this example, the respective access devices may be used by thefollowing:

One or more client/end-users who instruct and have overallresponsibility for one or more of the transactions;

Freight forwarders;

Transport companies;

Shipping lines;

Agents.

For each transaction, various parties are involved, and variousinformation is required. The parties and the information may be the sameor different for different transactions. The Job file lists the partiesinvolved and defines their respective access privileges to everyconstituent of the Job file.

Thus, for Job 1 there is a client C1 instructing movement of theconsignment from Location L1 to Location L2. This is done with theassistance of a Freight Forwarder F1, a Transport Company T1, a ShippingCompany S1 and an Agent A1.

Each of these parties is engaged by the client or other authorisedintermediaries and is given authorisation to access Job 1 on the serverat a predetermined access level.

The server runs implementing software which sets up the structure of Job1 on the server for use by the client.

Each of the authorised parties accesses Job 1 after entering a useridentification and a password andlor possibly using additional securitykeys. The party can than access the Job or Jobs and can read/amend/editexisting documents where appropriate access privilege exists or createnew documents.

This form contains all required information as to the identity andfunction of this user.

The user can download and print out hard copy documentation e.g.required to accompany the consignment.

When the user has progressed part of the transaction, e.g. by receivingand moving the consignment from location to location, this informationis uploaded by the user to the server to be stored in a status sectionof Job 1.

The user can access this status section to determine current informationas to the location and status of the consignment.

An autihorised person with suitable access privileges can read allstored information and also write to portions of the stored data to beread by the other authorised users.

Other persons acting as intermediaries may have limited accessprivileges so that, Tor example, only part of the stored data can beread or downloaded, and, in the case where data is permitted to bewritten to the store this may be in relation to only part of the store.

In this way, the users have access to information that relate to themand can conduct further transactions with existing or new parties withrespect to current Job. Intermediaries have access to informationderived from the client and/or other Intermediaries and can derive up todate status information, create new documents and correct, updateddocumentation, such as shipping instructions, shipping notes, collectionnotes, manifests, etc., as and when required.

The server also contains information relating to other jobs: Job 2, Job3, Job 4.

Users may only have access to information relating to one job, or mayhave access to multiple jobs depending on their involvement. Differentcombinations of access by Clients (C), Freight Forwarders (F), TransportCompanies (T), Shipping Lines (S) and Agents (A) are shown In FIG. 2.

Information and documents are submitted between partners In a particularjob on a selective ‘need-to-know’ basis. Each party can only seedocuments which that party has created, and documents submitted to thatparty by a partner in that particular job. Thus, as illustrated,Transport Company T4 is involved with Jobs 2 and 4 but not with Job 1and 3, and Shipping Line S1 is involved with Jobs 1 and 2 but not Jobs 3and 4. Transport Company T4 can therefore only share information withShipping Line S1 in relation to Job 2 and not Job 1.

In addition To facilitating worldwide communication and providingup-to-date information which may not otherwise be readily available, thesystem described provides access to information and standardiseddocumentation without requiring extensive local investment in equipment.There is the possibility of users accessing information anddocumentation from anywhere in the world through local Internet access.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended tobe restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are describedby way of example only.

Thus, for example, instead of the Internet, any other suitable networkinterconnection between the server and user access devices may be used,including Virtual Private Network technology.

Any suitable number and combination of partners can share informationwith the system described. Thus, other users, additionally oralternatively to those described, may be involved with a freightconsignment transaction such as hauliers, shipbrokers,warehousing/storage companies, airlines, container operators, etc.

Also, the invention is not restricted to freight consignments. Theinvention may apply to any other suitable transaction or transactions ofa progressive or developing nature where multiple users act inpartnership with each other to achieve a collective goal. Other examplesare:

-   1. Family law which involves confidential information In    predetermined format/structure pooled and shared between a number of    parties such as two or more firms of lawyers, the courts, court    appointed welfare officers and the non-professional parties.-   2. Local government services procurement where an incredible number    of organisations including multiple utilities, law firms,    construction firms, the police and the multiple council departments    are typically involved in a public project such as building a    by-pass or new estate of some kind.

1. A data handling system for multi-user transactions comprising acentral data processing device incorporating a data store structured inaccordance with a predetermined progressive transaction involvingcooperation between users, a plurality of data access interfaces for thedevice for the respective users with defined access privileges, at leastsome interfaces being read/write interfaces whereby data can be readfrom and written to the said store in relation to predetermined stagesof the said transaction in accordance with the respective saidprivileges.
 2. A system according to claim 1 wherein there are differentsaid defined access privileges giving access to different data.
 3. Asystem according to claim wherein some define access privileges giveaccess to shared data.
 4. A system according to claim 1 incorporatingmeans for providing data output as hard copy documentation.
 5. A systemaccording to claim 1 incorporating means for bidirectional exchange ofsaid data with a separate user data handling system.
 6. A systemaccording to claim 5 wherein the user system comprises a hand held ormobile device.
 7. A system according to claim 1 structured for multiplesaid progressive job transactions.
 8. A system according to claim 1 whenused for a said transaction which constitutes forwarding of a freightconsignment between destinations passing through the hands of differentintermediaries.
 9. A system according to claim 1 used for a saidtransaction which constitutes a legal transaction related to theresolution of a problem with different parties working together.
 10. Asystem according to claim 1 when used for a said transaction whichconstitutes a public project related to construction work with differentparties working together.
 11. A method of tracking movements of freightconsignments under the control of a plurality of separate partieswherein each freight consignment has a respective set of data stored ata central data store, and each party has access to the data store forpurposes of reading and writing to the data set in accordance with arespective set of permissions.